After avoiding fighting on the same cards for their entire Bellator careers, Patricky Freire wants to compete on the same night as his younger brother, Patricio Freire, at Bellator 203.

With Bellator featherweight champ Patricio (26-4 MMA, 14-4 BMMA) set to put his title on the line against Daniel Weichel in July’s Bellator 203 headliner, Patricky (19-8 MMA, 12-7 BMMA) is hoping to get a notable lightweight fight scheduled on the same card.

The pair has made a combined total of 37 appearances under the Bellator banner. They’ve intentionally avoided fighting on the same cards over the years, but Patricky said it’s time for a change. They fought together prior to joining the Bellator roster nearly eight years ago, but Patricky admitted he didn’t like the results.

“We fought a couple times in the same night,” Patricky told MMAjunkie through an interpreter. “We’d worry about each other and not focus entirely on ourselves. The first time we fought on the same night, Patricio’s fight was right after mine, and he was shadow boxing and warming up ringside while I was fighting. But we’re more mature now, and we don’t think it’ll get in the way.

“Last year there was a possibility of both of us and Leandro Higo being on the same card together, but we needed a bigger structure and more people than we had available at the time, which would mean major expenses. Now we are close to finalizing our gym but already train there. We have more people to work with, and I’m already in fighting shape, which I wasn’t at the time, so it all aligns well.”

Bellator 203 takes place July 14 at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. The card airs on Paramount via tape-delay.

For Patricky, 32, one of his motivations for wanting to finally fight on the same card as his brother Patricio, 30, boils down to the location of the event. The Brazilian is captivated by the history of combat in Rome, and he’d like to cement a place in that connection.

“I’m fascinated by Rome and the gladiators; it’s a land where great warriors battled, a historic place, and I’d be very happy to fight there,” Patricky said. “I always wanted to visit the city and feel that atmosphere. It’s a shame the fights can’t take place in the Colosseum, though. Bellator used to have the gladiator image, too, so all this means a lot to me.”

As two of the longest tenured and most active fighters in Bellator history, Patricky believes the attraction of the “Pitbull” brothers taking the cage on the same night would be a draw all on its own. The fact his brother is defending a title in the main event provides a bigger boost, and although he would take any fight that’s logical, Patricky said a second title fight could turn Bellator 203 into a special event.

“A card with me and my brother, if promoted well, is something huge,” Patricky said. “Our ratings numbers have always been above average for Bellator, some way above, and the fact of two brothers fighting on the same night creates even more intrigue. The best case scenario would be to fight (Bellator lightweight champion Brett) Primus, but I know they’re saving him for (Michael) Chandler, so as a second option I’d like any big European name with a big fanbase there, someone the fans would be excited to see.

“Anyone the fans would enjoy is fine by me. There are some top names in the lightweight division that I could fight like Goiti (Yamauchi), (Adam) Piccolotti, but due to the event being in Europe, perhaps it wouldn’t make much sense for Bellator. So either Primus or a big-name, high-level European fighter would be great.”